U.S. patent application number 17/519746 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-26 for vehicle roof comprising a painted rigid roof module.
The applicant listed for this patent is Webasto SE. Invention is credited to Michael Deppe, Dirk Legler, Theodor Striegl.
Application Number | 20220161868 17/519746 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220161868 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Legler; Dirk ; et
al. |
May 26, 2022 |
Vehicle Roof Comprising a Painted Rigid Roof Module
Abstract
A vehicle roof comprising a base structure and a rigid roof
panel which is attached to the base structure and which is a
composite component having at least one structural layer, which is
a fiber matrix layer, and a design paint, which forms a visible
surface on an outer side of the structural layer, the composite
component having a machining edge provided with a sealing paint
covered by the design paint.
Inventors: |
Legler; Dirk; (Stockdorf,
DE) ; Deppe; Michael; (Stockdorf, DE) ;
Striegl; Theodor; (Stockdorf, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Webasto SE |
Stockdorf |
|
DE |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/519746 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2021 |
International
Class: |
B62D 29/04 20060101
B62D029/04; B62D 25/06 20060101 B62D025/06; B32B 3/12 20060101
B32B003/12; C09D 133/08 20060101 C09D133/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 25, 2020 |
DE |
10 2020 131 219.9 |
Claims
1. A vehicle roof comprising: a base structure and a rigid roof
panel which is attached to the base structure and which is a
composite component comprising at least one structural layer, which
is a fiber matrix layer, and a design paint, which forms a visible
surface on an outer side of the structural layer, the composite
component having a machining edge provided with a sealing paint
covered by the design paint.
2. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the outer side of
the structural layer has a central portion which is free from the
sealing paint and which is provided with the design paint.
3. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the outer side of
the structural layer is provided with the sealing paint in an edge
strip.
4. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the design paint
is disposed on a primer covering the sealing paint.
5. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the structural
layer is disposed on a backing layer.
6. The vehicle roof according to claim 5, wherein the backing layer
comprises a honeycomb structure.
7. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the sealing paint
is a paint cross-linking under UV radiation.
8. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the sealing paint
is free from solvents.
9. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the sealing paint
is an acrylate paint.
10. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the sealing
paint comprises at least one compound selected from the group
consisting of dipropylene glycol diacrylate; trihydroxymethylpropyl
triacrylate; trimethylolpropane triacrylate; neopentyl glycol
diacrylate ester (propolyated); 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone;
methyl benzoylformates; 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate; and ethyl
phenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphinate.
11. A use of a sealing paint for sealing a machining edge of a
composite component, the composite component being a rigid roof
panel of a vehicle roof or a panel of a convertible vehicle
structure and comprising a structural layer which is a fiber matrix
layer.
12. The use according to claim 11, wherein the sealing paint is an
acrylate paint.
13. The use according to claim 11, wherein the sealing paint is a
paint cross-linking under UV radiation.
14. The use according to claim 11, wherein the sealing paint
comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting
of dipropylene glycol diacrylate; trihydroxymethylpropyl
triacrylate; trimethylolpropane triacrylate; neopentyl glycol
diacrylate ester (propolyated); and
2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle roof comprising a base
structure and a rigid roof panel which is attached to the base
structure and which is a composite component comprising a
structural layer having a design paint, which forms a visible
surface, on its outer side.
[0002] A vehicle roof of this kind is known from practice and is in
particular a variable vehicle roof comprising a rigid roof panel
connected to a base structure in a detachable manner so as to form
a roof opening, the base structure comprising transverse roof beams
and/or longitudinal roof beams, for example. The roof panel is a
composite component, which can have a backing layer comprising in
particular a honeycomb structure provided with a glass
fiber/polyurethane mixture on both sides. A structural layer, which
is a fiber matrix layer and consequently forms what is known as an
SMC (sheet molding compound) layer, is disposed on a side of the
backing layer facing the vehicle environment. An outer side of the
structural layer, which faces the vehicle environment, can be
provided with a design paint forming a visible surface of the roof
panel.
[0003] The roof panel of the kind described above presents the
problem that machining resulting in a machining edge has not been
possible so far since the roof panel cannot be provided with a
final coat in the area of the machining edge since said final coat
would blister, which would disturb the appearance of the roof
panel.
[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle roof of
the kind described above which can be machined before it is fully
covered in a final coat without the final coat causing bubbles to
form on the finished product in the area of a machining edge.
[0005] According to the invention, this object is attained by the
vehicle roof having the features of claim 1.
[0006] So according to the invention, a vehicle roof is proposed
which comprises a base structure and a rigid roof panel which is
attached to the base structure and which is a composite comprising
at least one structural layer, which is a fiber matrix layer, and a
design paint, which forms a visible surface on an outer side of the
structural layer, the composite component having a machining edge
provided with a sealing paint covered by the design paint.
[0007] So the rigid roof panel of the vehicle roof according to the
invention has an edge that has been produced by machining the
composite component after its molding by milling or cutting, for
example, and a sealing layer, which forms a closed surface
preventing solvents or the like contained in the design paint from
entering an open surface of the composite component. In this way,
outgassing and blistering in the area of the machining edge as a
result of the painting with the design paint can be prevented.
[0008] The composite component of the vehicle roof according to the
invention has, as a structural layer, a layer that is a fiber
matrix layer. A layer of this kind is what is known as an SMC
(sheet molding compound) layer, which comprises a matrix made of an
in particular thermosetting reaction resin in which reinforcing
fibers (glass fibers and/or carbon fibers) are embedded in the form
of chopped fibers or in the form of a mat or a fabric. In
particular, it is also conceivable for the fiber matrix layer to be
produced from a fiber-matrix semi-finished product. Production
takes place in a mold.
[0009] The base structure of the vehicle roof can comprise at least
one longitudinal roof beam and/or at least one transverse roof beam
which is connected to a vehicle shell or a vehicle body in a
permanent manner or a detachable manner. The roof panel can be
permanently disposed on the base structure or be detachable
therefrom or movable relative thereto. It is also conceivable for
the base structure to be a top linkage of a convertible top, in
which case the roof panel can be a rigid roof shell of the top.
[0010] In a preferred material-saving embodiment of the vehicle
roof according to the invention, the outer side of the structural
layer has a central portion which is free from the sealing paint
and which is provided with the design paint. So the sealing paint
is applied only locally in the area of the machining edge in order
to prevent outgassing and blistering in this critical area.
[0011] In order to ensure a reliable effect of the sealing paint,
the sealing paint forms an edge strip on the outer side of the
structural layer, i.e., the sealing paint extends beyond the
machining edge. The central portion is adjacent to said edge strip,
which has in particular a width of few millimeters or
centimeters.
[0012] In order to ensure that the design paint is durably disposed
on the composite component, a primer may be provided, which covers
the sealing paint and which is in turn covered by the design
paint.
[0013] In an embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the
invention which is advantageous for reasons of stiffness, the
structural layer is disposed on a backing layer which is part of
the composite component. The backing layer can in particular
comprise a honeycomb structure, such as a paper honeycomb
structure, which can in turn be provided with a polyurethane/glass
fiber mixture on one side or on both sides.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the sealing paint with which the
machining edge of the roof panel of the vehicle roof according to
the invention is provided is a paint cross-linking under UV
radiation. This paint preferably does not soften at the typical
drying temperatures used for drying the design paint, which are
typically in the range of about 90.degree. C. Additionally, it does
not form cracks through which a solvent could enter the structural
layer via the machining edge. Furthermore, the paint cross-linking
under UV radiation is preferably a single-component system which
does not have to be mixed prior to being applied to the cutting
edge and which has a very long open time.
[0015] Preferably, the sealing paint is solvent-free. The sealing
paint can be dried in few seconds by means of a UV lamp, for
example, after application.
[0016] The process for applying the sealing paint does not require
a special painting installation, which allows the process to be
performed very variably.
[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the sealing paint with which
the cutting edge of the roof panel of the vehicle according to the
invention is provided is an acrylate paint, i.e., a paint produced
on the basis of at least one acrylate compound.
[0018] For example, the scaling paint sealing the machining edge of
the composite component comprises at least one compound from the
group consisting of [0019] dipropylene glycol diacrylate [0020]
trihydroxymethylpropyl triacrylate [0021] trimethylolpropane
triacrylate [0022] neopentyl glycol diacrylate ester (propolyated)
[0023] 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone [0024] methyl
benzoylformates [0025] 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate [0026] ethyl
phenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphinate.
[0027] The invention also relates to the use of a sealing paint for
sealing a machining edge of a composite component which is a rigid
roof panel of a vehicle roof or a panel of a convertible vehicle
structure, such as a rigid roof shell of an RHT (retractable hard
top) or a top compartment lid, and which comprises a structural
layer which is a fiber matrix layer.
[0028] Other advantages and advantageous configurations of the
subject matter of the invention are apparent from the description,
the drawing and the claims.
[0029] An example of an embodiment of a vehicle roof according to
the invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing and will
be discussed in more detail in the following description.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle body having a vehicle roof according
to the invention; and
[0031] FIG. 2 is a highly schematized section through a roof panel
of the vehicle roof of FIG. 1 along line II-II in FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle structure 10 of an off-road vehicle
having a vehicle interior 12 covered by a vehicle roof 14. Vehicle
structure 10 has four pillars 16, 18, 20 and 22 on either side of a
vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, pillar 16
forming what is known as an A-pillar, pillar 18 forming what is
known as a B-pillar, pillar 20 forming what is known as a C-pillar,
and pillar 22 forming what is known as a D-pillar. In the area
between pillars 20 and pillars 22, vehicle roof 14 has a solid roof
portion 24 mounted rigidly or permanently relative to vehicle
structure 10. In the area between pillars 16 and pillars 20,
vehicle roof 14 has a roof opening 26 which can be closed with four
rigid and removable roof panels 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D.
[0033] Roof panels 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D, which are attached to a
base structure 29 of vehicle roof 14, which comprises transverse
roof beams and longitudinal roof beams, when in the installed
position, each are a lightweight composite component comprising a
backing layer 30 as illustrated in the case of roof panel 28B in
FIG. 2, backing to layer 30 being formed by a honeycomb structure
provided with a polyurethane/glass giber mixture on both sides. A
structural layer 32, which is a fiber matrix layer or an SMC (sheet
molding compound) layer and faces the vehicle environment, is
disposed on backing layer 30. The composite component formed by
backing layer 30 and structural layer 32 has a machining edge 34
which is produced by milling and which in particular exposes the
structure of structural layer 32.
[0034] In a cross section, machining edge 34 is covered by a
sealing paint 36 in a U-shape, sealing paint 36 forming an edge
strip 38 on the outer side of structural layer 32, edge strip 38
being adjacent to a central portion 40 of the composite component,
central portion 40 being located on the outer side of the rigid
roof panel and being free from the sealing paint.
[0035] Furthermore, the composite component is provided with a
primer 42 on machining edge 34 and on its outer side, primer 42
covering machining edge 34 and consequently also sealing paint 36.
Primer 42 is in turn a substrate for a design paint 44 applied to
the entire surface, design paint 44 also covering sealing paint 36
and central portion 40 adjacent to sealing paint 36 and forming the
visible surface of respective roof panels 28A, 28B, 28C and
28D.
[0036] Sealing paint 36 covering machining edge 34 is an acrylate
paint cross-linking under UV radiation. In particular, the sealing
paint consists of a mixture of substances that comprises the
following compounds: [0037] dipropylene glycol diacrylate [0038]
trihydroxymethylpropyl triacrylate [0039] trimethylolpropane
triacrylate [0040] neopentyl glycol diacrylate ester (propolyated)
[0041] 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone [0042] methyl
benzoylformates [0043] 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate [0044] ethyl
phenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphinate.
REFERENCE SIGNS
[0044] [0045] 10 vehicle structure [0046] 12 vehicle interior
[0047] 14 vehicle roof [0048] 16 pillar [0049] 18 pillar [0050] 20
pillar [0051] 22 pillar [0052] 24 solid roof portion [0053] 26 roof
opening [0054] 28A, B, C, D roof panel [0055] 29 base structure
[0056] 30 backing layer [0057] 32 structural layer [0058] 34
machining edge [0059] 36 sealing paint [0060] 38 edge strip [0061]
40 central portion [0062] 42 primer [0063] 44 design paint
* * * * *